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This is How the World Ends: The VHS film starting a "physical media rebellion"
The decline of physical media has been one of cinema’s most upsetting trends in the 21st century. Even with the dawn of 4K Blu-ray and similar premium formats, the frequency and quality of physical releases has been steadily trending downward. This is where This is How the World Ends looks to stake its claim. Written and directed by Robert dos Santos, the dystopian sci-fi film will debut on VHS…
Rose of Nevada (2025) review - Mark Jenkin's latest is disorienting, challenging, and brilliant
Nobody makes films like Mark Jenkin. His 2020 film Bait burst onto the British film scene with its homemade aesthetic, grassroots filmmaking style, and culturally important message. His follow-up, 2022’s Enys Men, retained his directorial spark but veered more towards The Wicker Man-style cult horror. With Rose of Nevada, we’re back to Jenkin covering the topics, regions, and occupations he knows…
Oh, Canada (2024) review - Ambitious two-hander unravels a sordid life
Oh, Canada is a film laced with parallels. Paul Schrader’s latest – released in the States in 2024 but now making its way to British shores – is a two-hander in the finest sense, but with time as its key differentiator instead of the personalities of two leads. What we get is the robust dismantling of a fictional filmmaker, played with coldness by Jacob Elordi and vulnerability by Richard Gere.…
Boston Kickout (1995) review - Raw British drama ponders adolescence
It’s always nice to see forgotten relics of British cinema making a return. There’s something so raw about pre-millennium British films, especially those about adolescence, that is both refreshing and often quite startling to watch. Often, they’re also laden with milestones – the first appearance of a future national treasure, for instance. In the case of Boston Kickout, it’s not just the…
Chain Reactions (2024) review - The personal stories behind the definitive horror film
“How lucky we are, as cinephiles, to have The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.” It’s no exaggeration to call The Texas Chain Saw Massacre one of the most influential films in cinematic history. Tobe Hooper’s nightmarishly staggering 1974 film has managed to transcend the pop culture zeitgeist and quietly become the backbone upon which so many horror franchises were born. There’s no Michael Myers…
One Potato, Two Potato (1964) review - Bleak romantic drama is still searingly relevant
One Potato, Two Potato is a film far ahead of its time. While more than six decades have passed since it released, the racial politics and inequalities that Larry Peerce’s film explores are just as topical today. For that reason, its bold message papers over the creaky characters and thin narrative. The film principally follows Julie (Barbara Barrie), who falls in love with Frank (Bernie…
The Man in the White Suit (1951) review - Textiles have never been this wacky
The Man in the White Suit is the kind of film that simply wouldn’t be made today. Not because of risqué humour or outdated views, but rather due to the sheer wackiness of its concept. It’s a drama that dips its toes equally into comedy, and while there may not be enough narrative to sustain its 90-minute runtime, it’s an interesting insight into 50s British cinema. The film stars Alec Guinness…
The Odd Job (1978) review - Why don't men talk to each other?
There are some actors who will only ever be associated with one role. Despite his best efforts in follow-up shows like A Touch of Frost, David Jason will always be best known for his role as Del Boy in Only Fools and Horses. Before that, though, he had a few smaller cinematic roles, with The Odd Job being the last of his film appearances before donning the infamous fur coat. In a brand-new…
When Evil Lurks (2023) 4K review - Engaging lore obscured by sleepy structure
It’s hard to stand out as a post-apocalyptic, survival-style horror film. That’s not due to the difficulty of the conceit, but more that there’s been so much to do it so well: from The Last of Us to Children of Men, it’s no easy feat to carve out your own niche. Written and directed by Demián Rugna and out now in a new 4K edition from Second Sight Films, When Evil Lurks certainly attempts to mark…
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Odyssey (1991) 4K review - The definitive film documentary
I’ve never seen Apocalypse Now. That may seem like a strange way to start this review – and I’m sure it is – but it’s meant purely as a compliment. As feature-length making-of documentaries go, it’s testament to how engaging Hearts of Darkness is, in that its narrative and execution can completely engulf even those unfamiliar with the production it’s charting. That said, the turbulent making of…
Mad Cats (2023) review - Wacky concept, wack execution
On paper, Mad Cats is incredibly promising. It’s got a classic B-movie setup, the promise of pulpy action, and a zippy runtime, but it’s never quite the sum of its parts. Instead, Mad Cats doesn’t lean enough into what makes it unique, and ends up feeling devoid of identity. Mad Cats follows Taka (Shô Mineo), a down-on-his-luck drifter living out of a mobile home that he’s about to lose. His…
Hanging Garden (2005) review - The thin veil of domesticity
Family dynamics, particularly in films, can be strange. From Parasite to The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, we’ve seen the whole range of unconventional family units – but Hanging Garden from Toshiaki Toyoda is something else entirely. While its premise lacks the depth to carry the film to an engaging conclusion, the weight of its unique characterisation makes this worth watching. Hanging Garden…
New Religion (2022) review - J-horror questions the fragility of existence
New Religion is a cloying, intense film. It’s funny, because for much of the runtime, this crowdfunded horror film from first-time director Keishi Kondo is just that – all atmosphere and seediness without too much by way of complexity. What it does have, though, is a final act that toys with the concepts of humanity, the rinse-repeat nature of life, and existence as a paradox. It’s weird,…
Frankie Freako (2024) review - A wacky, puppet-fuelled 80s throwback
As a child, I used to love films and shows that heavily featured puppets. The early noughties ITV show Ripley and Scuff was a particular favourite, but shows like Rosie and Jim and films like Team America: World Police harbour equally fond memories. Perhaps that’s why I was particularly taken by Frankie Freako, a horror-comedy that takes these practical effects and plays on their nostalgia in a…
Sebastian (2024) review - Achingly human but sweetly joyous
“I’d like to stay… not for him, for me.” As a film, Sebastian is an enigma. It’s two hours of contradictions, shifts in tone, and fluctuating perspectives despite focusing almost entirely on one character. But it’s through these contradictions that the second feature film from director Mikko Mäkelä really works: a character study that’s tender but also honest in a really engaging way. Despite…
Talk to Me (2022) 4K review - The Exorcist meets Project X
The horror genre needed a film like Talk to Me. Not necessarily because it’s one of the best films in recent memory, but more because Danny and Michael Philippou’s directorial debut is a testament to the importance of original stories and bold voices in horror. It’s bleak, often disturbing, and more nihilistic than a lot of its contemporaries, and sets up a glimmering future for its…
Heavyweight (2025) review - Boxing meets Boiling Point
Making a boxing film is easy – well, as easy as making any film can be – but making a truly distinctive boxing film is a different matter entirely. For every Raging Bull there are a million Grudge Matches, and it’s one of the few genres without a proper modern classic to fall back on. Enjoying its world premiere at this year’s Raindance Festival, Heavyweight stakes its claim as a truly…